Brochure, 2019

The right to feed oneself in dignity and to be free from hunger is guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which today has been signed and ratified by 170 State Parties. As such, the right to food is a legal obligation anchored in international law. In order to fulfill this obligation, many countries and international organizations have led concrete actions to infuence policies and laws for the realization of the right to food.

• Many countries have included the right to food as a concrete goal to achieve through policies, laws and strategies related to food security and nutrition.
• They have  also developed and strengthened governance and policy dialogue mechanisms to guarantee the participation of communities and civil society organizations in crucial decisions involving their nutrition and food security.
• Several countries have developed or adopted methodological tools to accurately measure whether a new policy, law or governance process is progressing as planned and meeting the expected results.
• At the same time, training and education have also contributed to consolidate skills, expand outreach, increase participation and ensure longer-lasting action.

FAO, as the United Nations Specialized Agency mandated with the achievement of food security and nutrition, has supported Member Countries committed towards this important goal throughout the years. The Organization provides technical guidance and tools at the various stages of any given policy process to make sure every child, woman and man can enjoy adequate food at all times. Among the global tools that FAO uses to full its mandate, there are the Right to Food Guidelines, adopted by its governing Council in 2004.